Smuggling Investigation Has Suspect Sweating | S8 E20 FULL EPISODE | Border Security Australia

Summary

This gripping video follows Customs and Border Protection officers as they investigate suspicious passengers arriving at various checkpoints. From a nervous man suspected of smuggling cocaine to a New Zealand traveler with a dark past involving criminal convictions, the officers tackle a wide range of cases. The story unfolds with tense interrogations, concealed drug shipments, and smuggling attempts, showing the challenges of maintaining border security. As officers uncover hidden drugs, illicit goods, and uncover the truth behind each story, viewers are drawn into the high-stakes world of customs enforcement.

Takeaways

• 😀 Customs and Border Protection officers are trained to spot subtle signs of suspicious behavior, such as sweating and nervousness, to investigate potential smuggling activities.
• 😀 A male passenger arriving from LA was flagged for suspicious behavior and a positive cocaine swab test on his bags. He denied personal use but admitted being around cocaine users.
• 😀 Despite denying personal cocaine use, a second swab test of the passenger's bags confirmed cocaine traces, raising further concerns about possible smuggling.
• 😀 A man arriving from China failed to declare food items on his passenger card. Upon inspection, officers found undeclared meat and pork jerky disguised as tea.
• 😀 The man from China was fined $340 for failing to declare prohibited items and carrying someone else's items in his bag, emphasizing the importance of full disclosure at customs.
• 😀 Immigration officers investigated a New Zealand man with a criminal past involving kidnapping, burglary, and firearms discharge, concerned about his eligibility for a visa.
• 😀 The New Zealand man explained his criminal convictions were due to his involvement in trying to save his family from an oppressive religious cult, which damaged his personal life.
• 😀 Officers discovered suspicious behavior and cocaine traces in the New Zealand man's belongings, indicating possible drug smuggling despite his initial denial of any recent use.
• 😀 A shipment of water coolers from Thailand raised suspicion when an x-ray revealed irregularities, later found to contain 440,000 cigarettes, likely smuggled to avoid heavy duty charges.
• 😀 The New Zealand man was ultimately denied a visa after officers found evidence that his criminal past, linked to the cult, made him ineligible for a special category visa.

Q & A

What are the main duties of Customs and Border Protection officers as shown in the transcript?

Customs and Border Protection officers are tasked with investigating suspicious behavior at the border, conducting tests on baggage for illicit substances, questioning passengers about declared goods, and ensuring compliance with immigration and biosecurity laws.

Why was the man from LA initially flagged by Customs officers?

The man from LA was flagged due to his sweaty appearance, nervous behavior, and a positive preliminary swab test for cocaine found on his bags.

What was the man's response when questioned about cocaine use?

He denied personally using cocaine, but admitted to being around people who use it and attending parties where it was used. Eventually, he confessed to using cannabis.

What was the outcome after the second swab test of the LA passenger's belongings?

The second swab test returned a positive result for cocaine, increasing the suspicion that the passenger might be attempting to smuggle narcotics.

How did the man from New Zealand explain his criminal convictions during the immigration interview?

The New Zealand man explained that his criminal convictions, including kidnapping and burglary, were the result of his involvement in attempting to rescue his brother’s family from an oppressive religious cult.

What was the immigration officer's decision regarding the New Zealand man's visa application?

The officer determined that the man was ineligible for a special category visa due to his previous imprisonment and serious offenses, and he was refused immigration clearance to Australia.

What unusual items did the passenger from China attempt to bring into Australia, and how were they discovered?

The passenger from China attempted to bring in undeclared meat products disguised as tea. Customs officers found these items by questioning the passenger about the contents of his bags and conducting a thorough inspection.

What did the customs officers discover inside the shipment of water coolers from Thailand?

The officers discovered that the water coolers, declared as such, contained hidden compartments filled with up to 440,000 cigarettes, which had been smuggled in to evade duties and taxes.

Why did the American passenger keep changing his story about cocaine use, and what was the final outcome?

The American passenger initially denied recent cocaine use, but after further questioning, he admitted he had been in close contact with a heavy cocaine user. After a thorough search, it was confirmed he was not carrying any illegal substances, and he was allowed to enter Australia.

What led to the discovery of the smuggled cigarettes in the Thai shipment?

The discovery was made after customs officers examined the X-ray images of the shipment and noticed irregularities in the density of the cargo, which led to a manual inspection revealing hidden cigarettes in the water coolers.